Gear shifting mechanism



y 24,. J. A. MART-IN 1,860,196

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANI SM Filed May 21, 1928 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l May, 24, 1932. J. A. MARTIN GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 21, 1928 00/141301 rfl Wei/Z277 y 4,19s2. MARTIN 1,860,196

' GEAR S HIFTING MECHANISM Filed May 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A r; O 0

awvemiq'z Jbimfl. Marti/7 Patented May 24, 1932 i warren et-Ares JOHNA. MARTIN, oz ransom, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNQR, BY mnsnnnssiemvmlfrsiro CHRYSLER eonronarron, A oonroaarion or DELAWARE GEAR snrrrmsivrnormivrsivr, f I- Application filed Mayer, 1928. se iai lie-239493; l

V The invention has as one of "its primary objectsto provide a gear shifting mechanism of the above type distinguished by its simplicity of .construction and operation which not only .enhances,, its value both mechanisign of strongand durable nature.

'Motor vehicles, as now commercially produced, require the presenceof a gear unit interposed between the power plant and driving wheels for transmitting power to the any and com1nercially,.hut provides a delatter instagesi v This gear unit, which is commonly known as the transmission, usually assumesja position [adj acent to and below the level floor board ofthevehicleand as I I g g plane 'indicatedibythe line5 5 OfFigureQ; r

is customary, the control lever for thetransmission projects through the level floor board in direct alignment with the doors of the vehicle. Thus, the control lever, to a certain extent, restricts free access into and out of. the vdrlvers compartment and oftentimes hinders the driver in properly manipulating the gears-owingto the proximity of the controlflever to the passengers in the 'drivers it compartment.

It is therefore, one of the primary objects of this inventionto eliminate the abovenoted' disadvantages by providing a remote con-1 trol for the gears in the transmissionwhich includes associating suitable mechanism with the transmisslon capable of shifting the gears therein from an isolated point in the drivers' compartment Many of the advantages and much ofthfe' commercial value and acceptability ofcthe invention is attributed to thenovel construction of the gearshifting mechanismythese advantages being obtained particularly because o'ftheisimplicity of the mechanism and the vminirr'uun niun'her of parts gemployed.

enables thedevicetofbe'economically i '7 and quickly manufactured and easily assembled'and renders the same strong and durab-le. The invention, therefore, depends for some of fits "advantages upon the specific details of construction[illustrated and about'to 'be desoribed. i'

1 Inthe drawings: Y

'gure 1' is a fragmentary sectional view through aportiouof a vehicleshovvling a gear shifting "mechanism constructed in acthe transmission "Figure 5 is a sectional viewta'ken on the "rlligure '6 is asectional' view taken on the line 6+6 'o fFigure 2'; i 7 iv 7 v V Figure- 7 'is atop plan view of the' constructionls'hown in Figure 2';

" Figure "8' is a detail sectional' viewftaken on the plane indicated the "1ine"8' 8 ofv Figure 9 is a sectional view taken 'onithe plane indicated bythe line -9 9 ofFiiggl'llrz2. Referring nowtoflthedrawings,-'it willbe notedthatthere is illustrated fragmentarily j V in Figure 1 a portion of'a vehicle "including k and toe board 13. The latter; as is cus tomary 'in'vehicle body design, is i'ncl-ined withre- V speet to the floor board12 andprojectsa subportion 12is a suitableitransinissidnhousing V g s asectional view talrenon'the aplane indicated by theline ofFigureQ;

' coo Figure '3 is sectional Vie t ke the V line,3 3 QI Figure Z; v

1 i comprising complementary? sections :15

and 16 secured togetl'iermeans en istees l7. Arranged vzithinthetop section 16 of the'housing'are the "usual 'shi'fting' sha'fts 18 and IQcarryingyokeS and 21, respectively,

f having gear shifting forks 22 and 23depend- I ing therefrom and engageable T with the change speed "gears .24 and 25, respectively,

slidably and ,non-rotatively' mounted upon thespline shaft 26, the latter being journaled inthe section 15 of the casing'in accordance with'the usual practice.

As showmthe top housingsection 16 is]. formed with an angularly varranged extension 27 communicating with and terminating at a point remote from the transm ssion hous- I ing 14. In the present instance, the'e'xte'nportion f the control lever, however, as-f p "end. ofthe lever 271s then cause'dto move .sion 27 is inclined upwardly from the housing 14; and is arranged in a; plane substantially parallel tofthe toe-board 112, the latter. being? 7 slotted as at 28 to receive the extension- '27 which, as will be noted upon reference to Fi'g j ures 3 and 4; of the drawings, is provided with lateral flanges 29 secured'toithe'bottom suriface. of the toe-board, adjacent the slot 28 by means ofthe bolts 30, The upper end of the extensionL27 preferably (assumes a position adjacent the forward edge 31 of the toe-V board andterminates in an upstanding projecting portion32 having: an opening 33in thefront wall thereof normally closed by the detachable plate 34."

For controlling the operation of the transa suitable control lever-35 'is pro-* mission, 7 vided. The lower end of this lever extends into the portion 32 ofithe extension 27 and is universally connected to the latter in the cus- With the beneath the cowlandinstrument board andconsequently out of alignment with the passage between the usual doors, not} shown, of the vehicle. I V The upper sunies a position" adjacent the driver so that I -V In order to e the laterirnay conveniently grasp the :same to operate the transinlssion. Moreover, as

V will begunderstood, the arrangement-is such thatthe" lever. will clear the lower edge of the instrumentpanel inany ofitsvariousposit1ons1ofad1ustment. a r

the lower end of the control lever 35 and yokes 20, and 21,a pair of laterally spaced shafts 36*and-37 is provided, these shafts b'e- I in'g arranged inuthe, same plane which is preferablyparallel to the toe-board and are jslidablysupported in the spaced bearing por- ,Itions 38fand 39Hformed' in the extension 27.

V 'The lowerendsof the shafts36 and 37 extend intothe transmissionhousing 14 and are provided with teeth 40, inclined with respect to'theaxes of'the'shafts and adapted to meshwith similariteeth 4:1 formediup'on' the innerends 9f the, 1 1:8 20 a 21. .As will "be noted from Figure 2 ofthedrawings, the

-teeth 40 and Fll are arranged at such an angle that a perpendicular to the contacting suring.

stabl'ish a connection between 7 faces thereof is parallel'tothe bisector of the an 'le formed by the axes of the shafts 36 and 37 and the shafts 18 and 19. This con- 'struction enables the shafts 36'and137 to exert a direct force upon the yokes in the direction of movement-thereof and accordingly'facilitate the shifting of. the gears 24: and 25. Moreover it will furtherbe noted that the teeth on the shafts 36' and 37 are machined in theround sto'ckand consequently do notinterfere with the withdrawal of the shifting shafts from'the housing. The upper ends of e the shafts36 and .37 are preferably slotted as at42forreceiving the ball '33 formed upon the lower endofthe controlflever 35'. The

inner end portion of the latter, as will be noted by reference to Figure 6 of the draw ings, assumes aposition between the shafts j when the control lever is in engagementwith it will be outof contact with the shaft;37.. In other words,'thecontrol leveris so mount ed with'respect to the shafts36 and; 371as to selectivelyengage the sameto effecta shift ing of the gears within the transmission housl Arrange transmission housing arei'the spring infiuformed in the sliding'shafts l8 and 19' for yieldinglyf resisting movement of the latter and thereby preventing accidental diselr gageinent of the transmission gears. e

Referring nowjto the operat on of the detoifchange gears in the transmission moving. the gear 25 rea-rwardly, the lever 35 is merely shifted laterally to engage the ball 1 within nasal-[011 16 012 the vice and assumingthatthe operator desires 33in-the slot 42 of-the shaft'37.- The lower r'earwardly and due to the connection beismoved forwardly and owing to the connection heretofore, pointed out between the lever 35 and gear 25, the latter. will be shiftedfor vwardly, In a like manner if 'itisidesiredto' manipulate the gear-24, thelever 35 is moved into engagement with the shaft 36 and the re'arwardl'y' anclowing tothe sliding tooth connection heretofore pointed outwith some particularity between the shaft 37 'andyoke 21 upon the shaft 19, thelatter Willbe moved latter is slid'forwardly or ,rearwardlyto effect 7 the desired movement of the gear 24 1 Thus from; the foregoing, it willfb] readily j apparent that'I haverprovidedjan arrange ment which renders possiblemovingthe connection between the usual c ontrol leverand transmission from itscu'stoinary place upon f the level floor board directly above the transmission to a point remote from -the transmis the partsinvolved, the amount of friction is reduced to a. minimum-with the resultithat comparatively little eifort is required to manipulate the gears. What claim as my iiWention is 1. In a vehicle, the combination with a substantially horizontally disposed floor por tion and a transmission positioned below the said floor portion, of a second floor portion at an angle to the floor portion aforesaid, a control lever arranged upon the engularly disposed floor portion and a member slidably mounted upon the last mentioned floor portion having one' end adapted to be engaged by said lever and the opposite end extending into said transmission for shifting the gears therein.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a transmission includinga shifting forln of a reciprocal shaft angularly arranged with re spect to the transmission and having one end slidably connected to said shifting fork and the opposite end terminatin at a point remote from the transmission, and means engageable with the free end of said shaft for reciprocating the same to actuate the said shifting fork. g t v 3. In a Vehicle, the combination with a transmission including a plurality of shifting forks operatively connected to the gears'for shifting the latter, of a plurality of laterally spaced shafts corresponding in number to the number of shifting forks and haying'a sliding connection with the latter, said shafts eztending outwardly from the transmission and terminating at a point remote from the same and acontrol lever mounted at the re mote ends of said shafts and having one end thereof disposed therebetween Vand'sele'c'tive ly engageable therewith for operating the shafts to in turn actuate the said shifting forks. I

4. In a Vehicle, the combination with'an angularly arranged toe-board and a transmission positioned to the rear of said toeboard, of means for actuating said transmission including a pair of members reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the toeboard and having the lower ends thereof ex tending into the transmission and operatiyely connected to the gears; in the lattentheupper ends of said shafts terminate at a point re mote from the transmission adjacent the forward edge of the toe-board, and meansposi tioneo upon the toe board adjacent theifree ends of the shafts and engageable therewith free" ends of the shafts for .slfc a to effect a reciprocation of the same forshift ing the gears in the transmission J 1 In a vehicle, the combination with-La transmission :and a toe-board angnlarly garc ranges with respect to said transmission, of a housing communicating 'Wltll the J transmission and extending therefrom in :a plane parallel to the toe board"andsecured to the latter a pair of laterally spaced shafts slidahly mounted in said .housingvjhaving the lower ends thereof operatively connected. to :the

gears'in the transmission for shiftingithe same, and a controlleverlnounted upon .the

[end of the honsingreniote fromthe itra-nsmis sion and ada ted to se'leotive l' en a fe'ithe V H. b

to effect a shiftin'g of the gears aforesaido 6. 1n alvehiclefthe combination "with a transmission including a pair i of 'slidabl'y mounted shifting forks; ,of teeth nponleach of said forks arranged at angleto the direction of movemen-tf-o'f said forks,-a pair of Eig'o a the same lateral'ly spaced shafts reciprocable in a fixed I path alsoangularlyarranged to the direction;

of movement said forks and having-teeth upon the lower ends thereof engaging the of said'shafts terminating at a point remote teeth formed uponfsai d forks, the upper ends gr-rom the transmission and adapted-to be so "lectively engaged by a control lever operable to reciprocate the said shafts to effect a slid ing movementof saidforks.

'7. In a Vehicle, the combination With a transmission having shiftable ge'ars" therein, ,i

v of meansfor shifting said gears includinga shifting-fork, means for actuating said'shi'ft ring a fork' including a reciprocable shaftin clined to the path of movement of the fork and having one end slidably connected to said.

fork and the opposite end terminating ata' pointv remote "from-jthe-transmission, and

means engageable with the -free end of the shaft for actuating the latter.- M I r 8. In a ehicle, thejcombination;with

transmission having shiftable gearsftherein of means for shifting saldfxgears including a shifting fork, means -for'actu ating said shifting fork including" a reciprocable" shaft lncllned to the path of movement of the for kl and-extending into the transmission and hay ing a *slidable interlocking connection Wllill' the shifting fork,.-and meansengageable' with the shaft for actuating thellatters V 9. In a Vehicle, the combination with o a a transmission hav ng shift'able gears therei n; of means for shifting-said gearsfincliid ing a shifting f0rk, means for actuating said'shif-t ing: fork ncluding'a reclprocable sh aftfha-V- ing an inclined abutment adjacent-one ends thereof adapted; to sl-idably v I vengz't'geaco Sponding abutment upon thehshifting i"- and means positioned remote from the trans.- inission"for:reciprocatingsaid shaft;

{Infa vehiclefth'e combination with a; transmission ='h-aV1ng sl-1'1 ftable ge-ars therein, If

. means including cooperating abutting sur ,V faces upon the shaft and fork and inclined therein and havingan inclined extension,

at anangle to directions of movement of botlrthe latter member's. p

-11.- In a vehicle, the combination with a transmission housing having shiftable gears means forshifting the gears aforesaid from :7 means including a shaft carriedlbythe exa pointrem-ote from the transmission, said tension-V for reciprocation in a direction indined at an anglel of. inclination of the extensioniy;

I vl2. In a-vehicle, the combination With a transmission and an inclined toe-board in I advance of'the transm1ss1on,;of a rigid shaft mounted for reciprocation in a plane sub stantially parallel to thetoe-board andfh'av ing one end extending into the transmission r and slidably connected to one of thegears therein,- and means positioned adjacent the forward gage the. free end of said shaft for actuating the sameto shift the gears in said transmis- $10 11."

13. In vehicle, ,the' combination with a substantially parallel thereto,

' sio n upon l said housing terminating at a point remote from, the latter, and inclined at an angle to the pathlof sliding movement of the toothed element, theextension for reciprocation in a plane. means opera:

a shaft mountedwithin I V I tively connecting the inner endofthe' shaft to said toothed element, and a control lever mounted upon the'outer end of saidextension;

and having a portion engageable Withthe ad jacent end of said shaft'for reciprocating the f same. a r I In testimony whe eof I'atfix my signature.

corresponding to the angle end of'the toe-board adapted to en- 7 r transmission housing; and .a toothed element mounted Within the housing forsliding v -movement in the direction-of. its axis, means fora'ctuating thetoothed element fromv a oint remote from thetransmission includ mg, a "rigld shaft hav ng a portionarranged ith its axisinclinedat an angle to the axis of sa d element and mounted for reciprocationlinthe direction of the aforesaid axis thereof, meansuopera-tively connecting one transmission housing and a plurality of ments from a p toothed elements mounted Within the housing for slidingmovement in the directionoftheir axes, of means for actuating the-toothed ele- 'oint remote from the trans mission housing including, a plurality of rig- Y id shafts 'corresponding in number to the.

5 1 number of slidable f .atian'fangle to the paths of movement of said ,necting 1 :toothed elements aforesaid, and means en- 59 gageable with the" outer fends of'said shafts toothed elements, means for respectively'com the-inner ends of the shafts to the .for selectively actuatingthe-'sa'meQ j 15. In a vehicle, the combination with. a e transmission housing and a toothed element mounted ithin the housing for sliding movementinthedirectionoflits axis,of.1an extena a toothed elements and mounted for reciprocation in a planeinolined JOHN'A. MARTINx, I

end of said'shaft to said element, and means a engageable with-,the opposite endyof said ,shaft for i eciprocatingthe latter. 7 V

14,;In' a vehi :le,- th e combination Withas urs a so; 

